Methods for the degradation of environmentally persistent organic compounds using shite rot fungi
First Claim
1. A method for degrading environmentally persistent halogenated organic compounds, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) reacting at least one environmentally persistent polyhalogenated hydrocarbon compound having two or more aromatic rings with fungal enzymes containing at least one lignin-degrading enzyme expressed by white rod fungi in an environment containing hydrogen peroxide; and
(b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until said environmentally persistent polyhalogenated hydrocarbon compound is converted to substantially less toxic degradation products.
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Abstract
A process for degrading environmentally persistent organic pollutant compounds by reacting those pollutant compounds with fungal enzymes containing a lignin-degrading enzyme and hydrogen peroxide. This reaction preferably takes place under aerobic conditions such that the organic pollutant compounds are degraded. Using the present invention, degradation to carbon dioxide and water is possible. Alternatively, the reaction may be halted to leave desirable reaction intermediates.
The enzyme and hydrogen peroxide system of the present invention is found to be ideal for degrading various types of orgaic pollutants. Moreover, the reaction system is nonspecific. As a result, only a single type of fungus or fungus-generated enzyme system is required in order to degrade a wide spectrum of pollutants.
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a preferred process where the enzyme (peroxidase) and hydrogen peroxide are provided by a lignin-degrading fungi or fungi mixed with the pollutant organic compound. Adding the living fungus avoids the need for introducing the hydrogen peroxide and enzyme periodically into the reaction mix, since the fungus produces both the extracellular enzyme and hydrogen peroxide.
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Citations
67 Claims
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1. A method for degrading environmentally persistent halogenated organic compounds, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) reacting at least one environmentally persistent polyhalogenated hydrocarbon compound having two or more aromatic rings with fungal enzymes containing at least one lignin-degrading enzyme expressed by white rod fungi in an environment containing hydrogen peroxide; and (b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until said environmentally persistent polyhalogenated hydrocarbon compound is converted to substantially less toxic degradation products. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for degrading environmentally persistent halogenated organic compounds, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) reacting at least one environmentally persistent polybrominated hydrocarbon compound having two or more aromatic rings with fungal enzymes containing at least one lignin-degrading enzyme expressed by white rot fungi in an environment containing hydrogen peroxide; and b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until said environmentally persistent polybrominated hydrocarbon compound is converted to substantially less toxic degradation products. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method for degrading environmentally persistent pesticides, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) reacting at least one environmentally persistent pesticide with fungal enzymes containing a lignin-degrading enzyme expressed by white rot fungi in an environment containing hydrogen peroxide; and (b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until the environmentally persistent pesticide is converted to substantially less toxic degradation products. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for degrading polyhalogenated dioxin comprising the steps of:
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(a) reacting polyhalogenated dioxin with fungal enzymes containing a lignin-degrading enzyme expressed by white rot fungi in an environment containing hydrogen peroxide; and (b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until the polyhalogenated dioxin in converted to substantially less toxic degradation products. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A method for degrading environmentally persistent halogenated organic compounds, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) reacting Lindane with fungal enzymes containing at least one lignin-degrading enzyme expressed by white rot fungi in an environment containing hydrogen peroxide; and (b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until said Lindane is converted to substantially less toxic degradation products.
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67. A method for degrading environmentally persistent halogenated organic compounds, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) reacting Chlordane with fungal enzymes containing at least one lignin-degrading enzyme expressed by white rot fungi in an environment containing hydrogen peroxide; and (b) allowing the degradation reaction to proceed until said Chlordane is converted to substantially less toxic degradation products.
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeUtah State University Foundation Logan UT
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Original AssigneeUtah Valley University
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InventorsBumpus, John A., Tien, Ming, Aust, Steven D.
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Primary Examiner(s)Tarcza, John Edward
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Application NumberUS07/183,114Time in Patent Office623 DaysField of Search435/262, 435/254, 435/195, 210/606, 210/610, 210/611, 210/632, 210/909, 162/1, 162/9, 162/72US Class Current435/262CPC Class CodesA62D 2101/22 containing halogenA62D 3/02 by biological methods, i.e....B09C 1/105 using fungi or plantsY10S 210/909 Aromatic compound, e.g. pcb...Y10S 435/911 using fungi
